Former England captain Bracken earned a total of 51 caps for his country and appeared at three Rugby World Cups in a ten-year career that spanned the end of the amateur era and the dawn of professionalism.

Born in Dublin, a 13-year-old Bracken was later awarded a rugby scholarship to Stonyhurst School in Lancashire, where fellow future England internationals Will Greenwood and Iain Balshaw also studied. From there, his studies took him to the University of the West of England and his rugby education continued at Bristol.
Bracken made his England debut against the All Blacks in 1993 but his international bow ended in a nasty ankle injury as the result of a stamp from Jamie Joseph. The severity of the injury sidelined Bracken for three months but he battled back to full fitness and reclaimed his place in the England team.

He combined his career with work as a qualified solicitor until opting for a move to Saracens in 1996 as the game turned professional. He was later part of the team that won the Tetley's Bitter Cup against Wasps in 1998 and captained the club for two seasons.

He was over-looked for the 1997 British & Irish Lions for their trip to South Africa with coach Ian McGeechan opting to take two other Englishmen in Matt Dawson and Austin Healey along with Wales' Rob Howley. But when injury ended the Welshman's tour he was drafted in as a replacement although he didn't play in any of the Tests as the Lions notched a memorable triumph.

Further international recognition came in the form of the England captaincy for the 2001 tour of North America that went some way to making up for the disappointment of not making the Lions squad for that year's trip to Australia.

In 2003 he played in the notable victories over the Wallabies and the All Blacks and was selected by Sir Clive Woodward for the Rugby World Cup in Australia later the same year. He made four appearances during the tournament, earning his 50th cap against Wales in the quarter-finals, and gained his last cap in the semi-final victory over France. He was an unused replacement in the final victory over Australia but was amongst those honoured by the Queen and is now an MBE.

He retired from the game in 2006 and went on to find further fame on ITV's celebrity ice dancing competition - 'Dancing on Ice' - which he won in 2007. He now combines his skating commitments, having launched the 'Kyran Bracken Ice Party' touring production, with public speaking and his other business interests.